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Find out what he is doing here.

In April 2015 the police and crime commissioner took responsibility for the provision of victims services.
The OPCC has joined with Devon and Cornwall Police to create a Victim Care Unit which has day to day responsibility for victim's welfare.
The PCC has also overseen creation of a victim services directory, a focal point offering help and support to victims of crime.

Businesses enlisted to help combat modern slavery

18 October

Businesses across Devon and Cornwall will be given help and training to recognise the signs of modern day slavery and how to report it.

The new scheme is being launched on National Anti-slavery Day (Thursday 18 October) by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards (DSTTSS) who are enlisting trusted local businesses in the fight against modern day slavery.

It follows data released by the National Crime Agency that there were 5145 potential victims of human trafficking and modern day slavery in 2017, a 35 per cent increase on the previous year.

From December a small team of specialised trading standards auditors will be trained in an initial pilot.

They will then pass what they have learned to trusted local traders who are part of the Buy With Confidence scheme (BWC).

BWC is a national directory of trading standards-approved businesses who have demonstrated that they trade in a fair, honest and legal way.

Once the pilot is completed the aim is to roll the scheme out across the country – BWC includes more than 4,000 trusted traders all over the UK.

It will help consumers make informed decisions about where they are purchasing products or services. When they see this Buy With Confidence mark they know that throughout the supply chain everyone has been treated fairly and ethically.

Police rely heavily on intelligence from members of the public in their fight against modern slavery and there are often clear signs which can suggest if someone is being exploited.

The training will help traders know what to look out for when dealing with other businesses in their supply chains and community.

Providing businesses with the skills to recognise and report modern slavery creates an invaluable new intelligence network and helps to promoting ethical and trusted traders.

Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said: “I’m really pleased to be able to launch this new Buy with Confidence scheme in partnership with trading standards.

“There are still too many businesses that have unethical supply chains or use forced labour – this type of business crime needs to be stamped out and everything will be done to prosecute any business owners who are involved in modern slavery of any kind.

“This is a real opportunity to raise awareness of modern slavery and the measures that businesses can take to ensure that they do not contribute to this horrific organised crime.”

"I hope that by helping consumers make informed decisions about where they buy things from they know that when they buy with confidence there won't be any modern day slavery in the supply chain."

Paul Thomas, Head of Devon Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service and member of the Buy With Confidence National Strategy Group said: “Buy With Confidence exists to connect consumers with fair, honest, legally compliant businesses who’ve committed to excellent customer service.

“Raising awareness of modern day slavery throughout our membership and obtaining commitment to stamp out this appalling practice nationally is a natural next step and helps our members to show they’re a business their customers can trust.”

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said: “We are delighted to support Buy With Confidence in ensuring that supply chains of the businesses that join the trading standards approved business scheme are free from the exploitation, trafficking and abuse of vulnerable people – purely for the greed of others.

“This further independent assessment by trading standards inspectors provides a powerful way for consumers to use their buying power to make the choice to reject exploitation. It also expands the network of professionals who are now actively looking out to spot the signs of modern slavery in businesses, and in public life more generally.”

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